Top 10 Most Expensive Yachts in the World

This ship has been hotly debated for years: is it real or an urban legend? The story goes that an anonymous Malaysian businessman had it built. The price isn't in its size (it is the smallest on the list), but in its materials.

Experts at Boat International are skeptical and call it probably the biggest internet hoax in the yachting world, but until proven otherwise, it stays at the top of every list because of its bizarre price tag.

For years, this was the toy of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. This yacht was built with paranoia in mind. It has bulletproof glass, a missile defense system and – this is really true – an 'anti-paparazzi shield'. Tech magazine Wired described how lasers detect nearby camera sensors and then fire a beam of light to overexpose the photo, so nobody can snap a picture of the owner.

In terms of volume (interior space), the Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world. It is owned by Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov. The ship is so big that it fits the largest swimming pool ever installed on a yacht (capacity: 180,000 liters). The crew consists of almost 100 people to make sure guests lack for nothing.

The Azzam is not the most expensive, but it is the longest (180 meters). It was built for the president of the United Arab Emirates. What makes this ship unique is its speed. Ships this big are normally slow, but the Azzam can slice through the water at 30 knots (55 km/h). Shipbuilder Lürssen confirms that they built this enormous project in a record time of just three years.

This yacht, now called 'A+', is owned by Sheikh Mansour (whom you may know as the owner of football club Manchester City). The ship has eight decks, a gym, two jacuzzis and a cinema. It is so expensive to run that just filling up the fuel tank is estimated to cost 500,000 euros.

This is the most recognizable ship on the list. The design looks like a futuristic submarine sailing above water. It was designed by famous designer Philippe Starck. The owner, Russian Andrey Melnichenko, likes a party: the ship has a huge nightclub with a glass ceiling, which is also the bottom of the swimming pool on the deck above.

The name gives it away: this ship belongs to the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed. It has a huge glass spiral staircase that changes color. Because it is often extremely hot in Dubai, a lot of attention went into the air conditioning and shaded areas. There is room on deck for a helicopter of any size (up to 9.5 tons).

Not to be confused with number 6, although the owner is the same (Melnichenko). This is the largest sailing yacht in the world. The masts are so tall they would stick out above Big Ben in London. According to SuperYacht Times, a pod of thick glass has been built into the keel, so passengers can watch the fish underwater while sailing, like a kind of reverse aquarium.

This ship was bought in 2015 by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. The story goes that he saw it moored during his holiday in France, thought it was so beautiful that he bought it on the spot from its owner (a vodka tycoon). The ship has an internal seawater pool where you can safely swim in the sea without worrying about currents or sharks.

We finish with a sister ship of the Dilbar. The Radiant isn't the largest, but it is one of the safest. The ship was built with piracy in mind. It has sonic guns (which make an unbearable noise) to keep attackers at a distance and water cannons that can sink a small boat. Perfect for a 'relaxing' holiday in dangerous waters.